PROFESSOR EMMANUEL MOBOLANLE ADEGBOYEGA OLATUNJI
After the Late Pa. John Soleye
persuaded has father to send his first male child to school in person of Late
Pa. Daniel Olawale Olatunji of blessed memory, the rest of his male children didn't
have too much problem being sent to script, Accordingly, young Adegboyega was enrolled
at lyeru-Okin African Church Primary
School, Offa in 1951 for his
Primary Education.
After spending just two years
there, he was withdrawn from the school to stay with his eldest brother late
Pa. Olawale Olatunji in Kaduna and to continue his primary education there. He
was granted admission into U.N.A Primary School Kaduna and was there until 1956
when his senior brother had to travel to the United Kingdom for further
studies.
He returned to Iyeru-Okin African
Church Primary School, Offa in 1956 and completed his Primary Education there
in December, 1958 Professor Olatunji had his Secondary Education at Government
College Kaduna 1959- 1963 and his G.C.E Advanced Level Certificate in
Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics in June, 1965 at Federal School of Science,
Onikan Lagos.
He entered Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria in 1966 for a B.Sc. Degree Programme in Chemistry which he
completed in 1969 with a second-Class Honors, Upper Division grade. He was
offered a scholarship the same year by the same University to undertake a
Master's Degree Programme in Chemistry at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He completed this in 1971 and was
appointed Assistant Lecturer in the same Department in April, 1971. After
working for a year, he was offered scholarship by the Federal Government of
Nigeria and granted Study Fellowship by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to undertake
a Ph.D. Degree Programme at the
University of Glasgow in the
United Kingdom. He successfully completed this in 1975 and
returned to Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Nigeria as a Lecturer. He won the Commonwealth Academic
Staff Fellowship Award in 1987
and spent the next one year at the University of Newcastle -Upon-Tyne, United
Kingdom 1987-1988, carrying out research in the area of Kinetics and Mechanisms
of Inorganic Reactions. Professor Olatunji spent virtually all his working life
in the University except for the period he served as the Rector of the Kwara
State Polytechnic, Ilorin (January 1998-May, 2002).
He was appointed Assistant
Lecturer in 1971 and became Associate Professor of Chemistry in 1983, all at
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria.
He joined the service of Federal University
of Technology, Minna, Nigeria in March, 1985 and became a Professor of Chemistry
in October, 1986. He served as a visiting Professor of Chemistry on sabbatical
leave for one year at Nigerian
Defence academy Kaduna, January-December2006, His areas of specialization are
inorganic Chemistry (Kinetic and Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactions) and
Analytical Chemistry. He had published many research papers in international journals
as well as supervised many undergraduate and post graduate students in these areas,
He has also attended a number of international and Local Conferences where some
of his research works were presented such as the International Conference on
"Chemistry and the Environment/ Recent Development in Inorganic Reaction
Mechanisms" held at University of Swansea, Swansea, United Kingdom in
March, 1974 and the sixteenth International Conference on Coordination
Chemistry held at the University College, Dublin, Ireland in August, 1974. Professor
Olatunji did not regard teaching and research as his main duties in the University.
He has held a number of administrative positions in the University and the Polytechnic
and had rendered professional services to other tertiary institutions.
He was the Foundation Dean of the
School of Science and Science Education, Federal University of Technology,
Minna October 1985-September 1987; Head of the Department of Chemistry, April
1985 – June 1990; member of Senate (1985-2008); member of Governing Council of
the University, 1986 1988 and 1990-1992; Dean of Student affairs 1990-1997 and
Chairman, Committee of Deans, January 1993 to June 1997.
He also served as the University
orator, October, 1985-September 1987 and retired from the Service of Federal
University of Technology, Minna in December 2007. He remained in the University
for another year on contract before joining Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
University, Lapai, Niger State in January, 2009 as Professor and Head of
Department of Chemistry also on contract.
At Ibrahim Babangida University,
Lapai where Professor Olatunji lectured for a period of about 2¼ years
(January, 2009-May, 2011) he served as a Member of Senate, Head of Department
of Chemistry and Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Faculty of Applied and
Natural Sciences. He was also the Coordinator, Research and Conference Committee
of the University.
In addition to being involved in
routine administration in the University and the Polytechnic, Professor
Olatunji rendered Professional Services to the following tertiary institutions,
as External Examiner; Federal
Polytechnic, Bida, Nigerian
Defence Academy, Kaduna, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Bayero
University, Kano and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He had also referred
several articles for publication in many Scientific Journals e.g., Nigerian
Journal of Science, Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, etc.
He was the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic.
Ilorin from January, 1998-May, 2002 after which he was appointed the Coordinator
of Higher Education, Kwara State, by the Governor of Kwara State then, Alhaji
Mohammed Lawal on 10' May, 2002.
He later resigned his appointment six weeks after, and returned to his Former
University i.e.
Federal University of Technology,
Minna in June, 2002 when it became obvious that the state Government was not
serious with its plans including the plan to establish a State University of
Technology for which a proposal was submitted to the Governor by a committee headed
by him. Professor E.M.A Olatunji is presently the Chairman of the Management Committee
of Abraham Adio Adesoye Foundation for the award of Bursary to deserving Members
of Iyeru-Okin African Church, Offa. In addition, he served three times as a
Member and Secretary, Board of Elders of 2" ECWA Church, Minna
(1994-1997,2002-2005 and 2005-2008).
He had the privilege of traveling
to Greece and Israel on Holy Pilgrimage in 2013. He is currently working in
Landmark University, Omu-Aran as a Professor of Chemistry and Head of
Department of Physical Sciences. In addition, he is Chairman of the Publication
and Conference Committee as well as Disciplinary Review Panel of the
University. Professor Olatunji is a member of many learned societies such as
Science Association of Nigeria, Chemical Society or Nigeria and Chemical
Society of Great Britain. He is married to his jewel of inestimable value, Mrs.
Mojisola S. Olatunji and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.
